Truck loader



Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE TRUCK LOADER FinisF. Matson, Butte, Mont.

Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,520

including a lever arm and means to adjust said lever arm vertically andhorizontally. v

A further object is to provide a light-weight portable truck loaderwhich can be readily disassembled or collapsed when not being used.

Another object is to provide a truck loading device comprising, incombination, a lever arm rotatably associated with a verticallyadjustable base including a plurality of telescoping segments. Other andfurther objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description thereof and from the claims appendedthereto.

In the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several'views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truck illustrating the truck loader inoperative position and embodying the features of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the truck loader shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the truck loader,

Figure 4is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 in thedirection of the arrows,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3 in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a slightly modified form of thecollapsible base, showing the telescoping segments in collapsedposition,

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of a lever arm, and

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the modified form of the lever arm shownin Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawing the numeral "I generally represents a truckwhich can be employed with the truck loader covered by the presentinvention.

The truck loading device of the present invention is generallydesignated by the numeral II, and comprises an elongated lever arm [2,generally about forty-two inches long, or less, provided with aplurality of spaced-apart apertures l3 and a substantially centrallydisposed slot l4, which is adapted to receive a bolt l5, engages throughsuitable apertures disposed in the top portion of a U-shaped swivelelement I6 associated with said lever arm. The bolt fits through 2 theapertures disposed in the top portion of the U-shaped swivel element l6and through the slot H. The lever arm may be moved generally in ahorizontal direction through the distance limited by the size of theslot l4, and can be pivoted in a vertical direction with the bolt [5 asa pivot point. Likewise, the lever arm I2 can be rotated in a generallycircular direction as it is secured to the rotatable swivel element l6,which is provided at the bottom portion thereof with a lug H, whichengages in a segment l8 having a circular bore. The segment [8 isprovided with an aperture I9 intermediate the ends thereof, whichaperture I9 may be employed with additional segments added to segment 18or generally to adjust the height of the lever arm l2. Segment I8 istelescoped within a second segment 20, which is provided with aplurality of apertures intermediate the ends thereof, as for example 2|.The segment I 8 is held in vertical position within the segment 20 bymeans of a bolt 22 which fits through aligned apertures in the topportion of segment 20, and the bottom portion of segment l8, and islocked into position by means of nut 23 or any other suitable means.

The lower portion of the segment 20 merges into a base portion 24 whichmay be of any suitable shape, as for example square. The base 24 has aplurality of apertures 25 around the mar.- ginal edges thereof which areadapted to receive screws or nails to secure the base in position whenthe truck loading device is being operated.

A rod or standard 26 is secured to the lower portion of the base 24 andis in coaxial alignment with the segments l8 and 20 and the swivelelement It. The rod 26 is adapted to fit into suitable apertures in thefloor of the truck, so as to more firmly secure the base in operativeposition.

In Figure 6 where the telescoping segments are shown in collapsedposition, I have shown a slightly modified form of the base structurewherein a rod 26a threadedly engages into the lower portion of the base24 where it can be readily removed when the truck loading device is notbeing used.

On each end of the elongated lever arm l2. there is disposed a loadengaging element indicated by the numerals 21 and 28 respectively.

Transverse bars 21a and 28a are disposed in lever l2 near the elements21 and 28 respectively, for the purpose of preventing the rope or chainby which the load is lifted from slipping down lever l2 when it iselevated.

If desired, only one load engaging element may (a be provided. Theseload engaging elements 21 and 28 are secured to the lever arm [2 bymeans of bolts 29, locked into position by nuts 30. The load engagingelements 21 and 28 may be integral with the lever arm [2, if desired,and may be of any suitable shape depending upon the particular elementswhich are to be loaded upon the truck [0.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a modified form of an elongated leverarm comprising two elongated segments [2a and 12b slidable in brackets[20 and 12d. The effective length of the modified form of the lever armshown in Figures '7 and 8 can be changed by altering the relative.position of the arm |2a with reference to the arm 2. A truck loadingdevice comprising, an elongated lever arm provided with a plurality ofspaced-apart apertures extending substantially throughout the majorportion of its length and having a centrally disposed slot, said leverarm having a load engaging element on each end thereof, a collapsiblebase including a plurality of vertically adjustable telescopingsegments, a rotatable U-shaped swivel element associated with said leverarm and engaging in the top of one of said segments, said U-shapedswivel element being apertured to receive a removable pin adapted toselectively fit in said central slot and l2b. The lever arms l2a andI2!) are secured in a swivel element I2e which is adapted to beemrployed in combination with the base 24' in the same manner as swivelelement I6.

In the operation of the truck loading device,

.the device is first elevated vertically .to .a proper circulardirection. If desired, the bolt I5 canbe Withdrawn from the slot I4 andplaced-in any one of the apertures I3, to increase ordecre'ase theleverage from the arm l2.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent tothoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, and it isdesired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A truck loading device comprising, an elongated lever arm providedwith a plurality .of spaced-apart apertures extending substantiallythroughout the major portion of its length and having a centrallydisposed slot, said lever arm having a load engaging element at each.end thereof, a collapsible base including a plurality of verticallyadjustable telescoping segments, a rotatable U-shaped swivel elementassociated with said lever arm and adapted to engage in the top portionof one of said segments, said u-shaped swivel element being apertured toreceive a removable pin adapted selectively to engage in said centralslot and said apertures in said lever arm for varying the effectiveleverage of said lever arm, and a dependingrod secured, to the bottom ofsaid base in vertical alignment with said telescoping segments and saidswivel element.

said apertures in said lever arm for varying the effective leverage ofsaid lever arm, and a depending externally threaded rod adapted toengage in the bottom of said base and in vertical alignment with saidtelescoping segments and said swivel element.

3. A truck loading device comprising, an elongated lever arm providedwith a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending substantiallythroughout the major portion of its length and having a centrallydisposed slot, said lever arm having a load engaging element at each endthereof, and a collapsible base including a plurality of verticallyadjustable telescoping segments, a rotatable U-shaped swivel elementassociated with said lever arm and engaging in the top of one of saidsegments, and said U-shaped swivel element being apertured to receive aremovable pin adapted selectively to fit in said central slot and saidapertures for varying the effective leverage of said lever arm.

FINIS F. MATSQN.

v I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 40file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,083 Dickinson Jan. 10. 1882 5310,090 Slagle Dec. 30, 1884 428,841 Harrison et al. May 27, 1890450,695 Lindsey Apr. 21, 1891 546,088 Clancey et al Sept. 10, 1895 i827,543 Lewis July 31, 1906 to 839,479 Howe "r Dec. 25, 1906 966,433Erickson Aug. 9. 1910 1,977,823 Hall Oct. 23, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 55Number Country Date 9,999/27 Australia Feb. 23, 1928

